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Tony Kessell

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Tommy Osborne

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Steve Norman

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John Guest

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Richard Avery

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Brad Potter

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Ryan Hayes

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Jay May

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Brendon Cass

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Eddie McClements

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Total Members Voted: 35

Voting closed: February 26, 2007, 11:40:22 PM

[The 5th Searcher]

Geographically yes but to be honest all 3 have been very big rivals over the many years, or at least i think they have anyway.

[PeteSamson]

Surely our biggest game rivals have always been Gravesend and Northfleet. I wouldn't have thought over the years Dover constituted a game  any bigger than Margate or maybe Folkestone as teams from the South coast. The Gravesend games were always reserved for the Bank Holiday fixtures. I think you'll find that over the decades we attracted bigger crowds to Watling Street when playing against teams like Chelmsford, Romford and Tonbridge than  xdover.

Of course over the decades there have been many seasons when we hadn't played many of the teams due to promotions, relegations and playing in different leagues. In fact I would have thought Maidstone attracted bigger crowds than Dover as well over the years, although we didn't play them until more recent times as they I'm sure spent more time in the Isthmian League rather than the Southern League.

Perhaps dad will join in this debate 5th as we are much much older than some of you youngsters

[The 5th Searcher]

Ok maybe i should've said one of our biggest rivals then. but in my defence Little Kev did say

why is it that   xdover is the biggest game of the season

So im assuming he's talking about THIS season where  xdover are really our biggest rivals.

Although the Stones are certainly there or there abouts as well now.

[Silverado]

I've just been watching the video highlights of the last weekend's Dover-Maidstone game on their DATV site, and 3 things struck me:

1. The pitch cut up something rotten - far more than the Sittingbourne pitch
2. Dover are still missing chances by the hatful: they only scored one from open play (the other was a penalty), but missed umpteen others.
3. I thought Matt Bourne was unlucky to be sent off, on two counts: (a) he wasn't actually the last defender and preventjng a goal-scoring opportunity (another defender was attempting to challenge the same player); and (b) when the challenge (one of those clambering-on-his-back-and-clumsily-falling-on-top-of-him things) went in, it appeared to me that the first contact was made just outside the box and only finished inside the box; it wasn't a case of a second yellow, either - the ref game him a straight red.
..... still, if that means he won't be playing on the 24th - so much the better!

[Silverado]

I agree with Grassbank and Pete S: G&N have traditionally been our biggest rivals - partly for their geographical proximity. They ceased to be our rivals in our wilderness years, when we dropped back to the Kent League while they were moving up divisions to the Conference. So it's been a long time since we've actually played them for the rivalry to be expressed (for all the stattos out there: when was the last time we played them competitively? I would guess in the Kent Senior Cup sometime).
Our on-the-pitch rivalry with Maidstone doesn't date back so far and was, I suggest, sporadic at best since we weren't in the same league all that often. In the last 15-16 years the rivalry has been almost entirely off-the-pitch, stoked up by the ground-share and both clubs going bust, with DFC picking up the tag. It's taken 14 years since then to get the rivalry back on the pitch.
I wouldn't say  xdover have ever been real "rivals" as such until a couple of years ago, started off by what might be called that rather "tasty" FA Trophy match and replay when the Darts beat the higher-league  xdover. Until then, they had just represented another, rather farther-away-than-most "local" derby in the few seasons we were in the same league.

[Kebabus]

Crikey this thread is all about Dover away, yes G+N are our rivals but they are not in our league!

Dover away is our BIGGEST away game of the season.

[eagle88]

It doesn't really matter wether they are our biggest or smallest rivals in the league does it? All that matters is that we get the 3 pts, don't lose any more players and have a nice friendly afternoon on the terraces surely? I for one would not be going if I thought it would 'Kick-off'. As quoted on the Dover forum 'the Asbo Kids' hopefully won't make it and we don't want them to. So far this season with the influx of 'new' supporters these kids have been, as far as I am aware, the only black spot on the record. Let's keep it that way! I am hoping that we take a few more supporters away than we usually do. It would be nice to get close to saturday's attendance of 1500+ (against The Stones) but we will have to wait and see.

[Skip]

Personally I'd be happy to see 300 Darts at the match.  At the moment large numbers of our new home support haven't been bitten with the 'away' bug yet and it will probably take a season or two of relative success to stimulate the interest.  This is a massive game for both clubs but still only represents 3pts in each clubs bid for promotion.  I'm looking forward to a great day down at the Crabble, an entertaining match, a bit of banter and - hopefully - 3pts !

[eagle88]

I agree Skip, being one of the 'New' supporters (in actual presence at the matches) I have just started getting into the away games. Although PP has spoilt me with it's facilities compared to other grounds. But the Away games are probably more enjoyable for that reason, and chatting to the other fans over a beer is always fun I for one am truly looking forward to the  xdover game 

[Banksy87]

all new suporters away matched are def more excitment becuase i noticed that the singing i alot louder and better and its a great day out so dover will be the same.We also need more nosie ie someone needs to get a big drum

[Kebabus]

If there is any sign of a drum in the Darts end that would be it, I would be off to watch the matches with Skip Spike and the crew!

[eagle88]

TB might get deafened at the home games from now on, because we've got 2 airhorns complete with refills so lot's of noise

[Silverado]

we've got 2 airhorns complete with refills so lot's of noise

Aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhhh!!!! 

[eagle88]

Providing your nowhere near the entrance to the bars you'll be OK Hunky

[Bacton Buoy]

G&N have traditionally been our biggest rivals - partly for their geographical proximity. They ceased to be our rivals in our wilderness years, when we dropped back to the Kent League while they were moving up divisions to the Conference. So it's been a long time since we've actually played them for the rivalry to be expressed (for all the stattos out there: when was the last time we played them competitively? I would guess in the Kent Senior Cup sometime).

FA Cup 3rd Qualifying round 2001-2002... Lost 2-0